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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 2179.PDF
MILITARY AIRCRAFT OF THE WORLD The 1-22 prototype made its first flight on 3 March, 1985, and at least one more development aircraft is now flying. Series production will be undertaken at Mielec. PZL-130 Orlik The prototype PZL-130T Turbo- Orlik, developed in collaboration with AirTech of Canada and powered by a 410kW PT6A-25 turbo prop, flew for the first time in August 1986. Aimed primarily at export customers and marketed by AirTech, the Turbo-Orlik has four underwing hardpoints. In January 1987, the prototype PZL- 130T crashed in Colombia during a demonstration to the air force, killing AirTech's president. A second PZT-130 has been converted to turbine power to allow the certification programme to continue. The original piston-engined PZL-130 Orlik flew in October 1984, powered by a 268kW Vedeneyev radial engine driving a three-blade, fixed-pitch propeller. The Orlik is a retractable-gear, low-wing, tandem-seat aircraft. Modular cockpit instru mentation allows rapid conversion between roles, and four underwing stores pylons are provided. Other uses envisaged include reconnaissance, light ground-attack and target towing. M-26 Iskierka A single-piston-engined, retractable- gear design intended for military pilot selection and civilian pilot training, the M-2600 prototype flew on 18 July, 1986, powered by a 153kW PVL-F6A-350C1 engine. Some assemblies from the M-20 Mewa (licence-built Piper Seneca) were used in the Iski- erka's wing, tail unit, landing gear and electrical systems. A development, the M-2601, with a 224kW Lycoming AEIO-540 powerplant, made its first flight on 24 June, 1987. W-3 Sokol The Polish-designed and developed twin- turbine Sokol helicopter, which flew in November 1979, is larger than the earlier Mi-2 series and has accommodation for 12 passengers or up to 2,100kg of internal cargo. The W-3 will be the main product of the Swidnik works in the 1990s, series production having started in 1985. Military applications for the Sokol are likely to include liaison, training and medevac. Mi-2 Polish production of the Mil Mi-2 Hoplite twin-turbine light helicopter continues. Military vari ants include an anti-tank helicopter with four missiles, a trainer and a medevac model. The Mi-2B version has upgraded electrical and navigation sys tems. Developed with co-operation from Allison in the USA, the Kania, which first flew on 3 June, 1979, is an Mi-2 airframe powered by two Allison 250-C20B turboshafts. A further-refined version, the Kania Model 1, has a redesigned cockpit and improved • control systems, and is offered in several military. configurations. First deliveries were made in mid- 1987. Customers: Bulgaria 16+, Cuba 2+, Czechoslovakia 10+, East Germany 12+, Lesotho 1, Nicaragua 2, Poland 200+, Romania 6+, USSR 750+. ROMANIA CNIAR IAR-99 Soim In production at lAv Craiova, the IAR-99 Soim (Hawk) is an advanced jet trainer and ground-attack aircraft. Fifty are on order to replace the L-29 Delfin in Romanian air force service. The tandem-seat IAR-99 first flew in late 1985. Powered by a 17.8kN-thrust Turbomecanica-built R-R Viper 632-41 turbojet, the Soim has a straight wing with four hardpoints. Maximum take-off weight is in the , 5,600kg class and the IAR-99 has a maximum level speed of 460kt and a service ceiling of 41,300ft. An upgrade is under consideration. Customer: Romania 50. IAR-823 The piston-engined IAR-823 two/five-seat training/liaison aircraft first flew in July 1973. The aircraft, which remains in limited production at Craiova, has a retractable tricycle undercarriage and two underwing hardpoints for fuel tanks or practice weapons. Powerplant is a 216kW Lycoming IO-540. Customer: Romania 40+. IAR-825TP Triumf Retaining the wing and landing gear of the IAR-823, the turboprop-powered Triumf has a new fuselage with two seats in tandem and a new swept fin. Two underwing hardpoints are provided. The IAR-825TP first flew on 12 June, 1982. Series production for the Romanian air force, using an uprated 559kW PT6A-25C engine, started in 1986. Customer: Romania 25+. IAR-317 Airfox The Airfox is a Romanian-developed light-attack/training version of the Aerospatiale Alou- ette III helicopter (200 of which were built in Romania from 1971 to 1987 as IAR-316Bs). After an . i • i ml ii MiAdMfa&m CHS-2 Rooivalk April 1984 first flight, the project was cancelled in 1985, by which time two more prototypes had been completed. The IAR-317 was revived in 1990, initially aiming for a 50-aircraft order from the Romanian armed forces. Subsequently, ICA Brasov will offer the upgrade to overseas Alouette operators. The Airfox's reconfigured front fuselage has two seats in tandem, the rear seat raised for improved visibility, fixed forward-firing armament of two 7.62mm machine guns in the lower front fuselage, six external weapons pylons (for wire-guided anti tank missiles) and armour protection for the crew and fuel tanks. To the rear of the main-rotor mast, the Airfox is essentially an Alouette III, retaining the latter's tail rotor and 420kW Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turbos- haft. Performance is improved by the lighter, more streamlined nose, with a maximum cruise speed of lOOkt at the maximum take-off weight of 2,200kg, and a 525km range on internal fuel. Customer: Romania 25+. IAR-330 Puma ICA Brasov continues to produce the Aerospatiale Puma helicopter under licence at a rate of about ten a year. An order for the Romanian armed forces is likely to be completed by about 1993. Romania began building the- IAR-330H in 1975, switching to the improved-performance -330L with composite main-rqtor blades in 1977. Local modifications include an armed version, with two fixed forward-firing 20mm cannon, roof sight and. launch rails for four AT-2 Sagger anti-tank missiles and pylons for four rocket of machine-gun pods. ' Customers: Kenya 9, Romania 90+, Sudan 12. SINGAPORE SINGAPORE AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES A-4S Super Skyhawk Following the successful flight-testing, SAI's re-engined A-4, dubbed Super Skyhawk, is being offered to other Skyhawk opera tors. Re-engining with a non-augmented F404-100D turbofan offers a 30% increase in thrust which gives a 35% faster rate of climb, 40% greater acceleration and a 15% higher dash speed. The SAI upgrade programme began in May 1985, and the first of two prototypes flew on 19 September, 1986. Production of the Super Skyhawk began in mid-1987, and completion of the RSiAF's 50-aircraft re-engining programme was completed early in 1991. A further 20 aircraft will incorporate Ferranti head-up and head-down displays and mission com puter, inertial navigator, digital air data computer and laser tracker pod. SOUTH AFRICA ATLAS Cava Atlas is developing a two-seat, twin-engined multi-role fighter for service with the SAAF from the late 1990s. Codenamed Cava, the aircraft will replace those Mirage Ills not converted to Cheetah configu ration, as well as the surviving Buccaneers and Canberras. Cava is expected eventually to supersede the Mirage F.l in SAAF service. Believed to be a scaled-up Cheetah, the Cava is of a similar size to Dassault's Mirage 4000, and power will almost certainly be provided by an Atar-derived turbojet. Cheetah Atlas is updating the SAAF's fleet of Mirage Ills to Cheetah standard. The first Cheetah conver sion was revealed in July 1986, and resembles the IAI Kfir in appearance, although Atlas denies any over seas assistance with the programme. Intake-mounted canards and dogtooth leading edges are among a number of structural modifications which signifi cantly improve manoeuvrability. Some 50% of the original airframe is rebuilt during Cheetah conversion. The Cheetah also features new navigation and weapon systems, probably including a multimode radar. Armament includes Kukri or Darter heat- seeking air-to-air missiles linked to a pilot's helmet- mounted sight. Most Cheetahs are powered by 60.kN-thrust Snecma Atar 9s, but conversions of Mirage IIID2Z and TIIR2Z aircraft have 70.6kN- thrust 9K50s installed. The Cheetah was declared operational by the SAAF in July 1987. CSH-2 Rooivalk The privately funded Rooivalk (Red Kestrel) attack helicopter made its first flight on 11 February, 1990. Four prototypes are now flying. The project began in 1984, based on the Aerospatiale Puma's dynamics and engine. Although it was built to SAAF specifications, SAAF interest was curtailed early in 1990 by major budget cutbacks and the end of hostilities in Namibia. Joint development and production with overseas manufacturers is being sought. Maximum take-off weight is 8,000kg, length 16.7m, main-rotor diameter 15.1m, maximum cruise speed 145kt and range with 30min fuel reserve is 740km. Rooivalk is powered by an Atlas-developed, uprated version of the Turbomeca Makila. Armament includes four Atlas anti-tank missiles (probably laser-guided), and V3B Kukri or all-aspect Darter infra-red-homing air-to-air missiles aimed by either crewmember's helmet-mounted sight. A belly- mounted 20mm cannon is also carried. A nose- mounted forward-looking infra-red sensor turret, laser sight, and head-up and head-down displays for both crew are incorporated. SOVIET UNION ANTONOV An-26/32 The original An-24 Coke passenger transport, from which the An-26/32 series was developed, first flew in December 1959. The An-26 •was ^'revealed in 1969, and an improved An-26B version was announced in 1981. The An-32, with alrrtost twice the installed power of the An-24, followed in 1977. Customers (military): An-26 Afghanistan 18, Angola 30, Bangladesh 4, Benin 2, Cape Verde 3, China 5, Congo 1, Cuba 22, Czechoslovakia 6+, East Germany 10, Ethiopia 2, Hungary 15, Iraq 2, Jugoslavia 10, Laos 3, Libya 6, Madagascar 6, Mali 2, Mongolia 1, FLIGHT INTEHNATIONAL 21 - 27 August.. 1991 41
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